Unit Outline

  • This Moodle page is designed to guide you through a water conservation unit that meets several different standards, grade levels, and content areas using a variety of technology. Below is the Unit Outline of a possible unit that you could do in your classroom. Note: This is just an example. You would, of course, design the unit and the activities to meet the needs of your students.

    The unit has been constructed around the following essential questions:
    1. Why care about water?
    2. What are the issues around water in San Diego?
    3. What can we do within our community to make change?
  • Unit Outline

Week 1
  • Video: "Why Care About Water"

    While watching the video, "Why Care About Water?" , be thinking about the three essential questions for this unit:

    1. Why care about water?
    2. What are the issues around water in San Diego?
    3. What can we do within our community to make change?



  • Let's Wiki!

    Next, we are going to use a wiki to keep track of our thinking and learning. Click on your presenter's name below to link to the wiki or type the url listed on the notecard provided.

    Cheryl Steinemann
    Courtney Browne
    Dennis Cowick
    Doug McIntosh
    Mary Lange
    Mary Vieira
    Mike Senise
    Sarah Trueblood

    Follow the directions on the first page (titled home) of the wiki in order to sign in and add your content. Instructions are also located on the "Wiki Directions" job aid at your table.

  • Then, using Google Image Search, find a picture to narrow your thinking about water.

    Finally, insert a Picture into a Wiki Page.


  • How Much Water?

    Use the "How Much Water?" worksheet to analyze how much water you use daily.

    Now, return to your wiki page and write a reflection on what you learned about yourself as a water user from this activity.

Week 2


  • Organizing Ongoing Research

    Thus far in our project, we have interacted with various text and multimedia resources. We have organized the information gleaned from these onto the "Big Ideas Graphic Organizer."

    You are going to engage in one section of a digital text today. As you read, you are responsible for recording the following information on the "Big Ideas Graphic Organizer."
    • Record the source of information
    • Record 2-3 big ideas about water issues in San Diego
    • Respond how this text adds to or changes your thinking. In other words, what do I think now?

    Each member of the group is going to read part of the text. The assignments are as follows:
    Group Member 1 - Reads Storm water, Sewage, Industrial and Military Pollution
    Group Member 2 - Reads Monitoring and Restoration, Energy, and Water Supply
    Group Member 3 - Reads Land Use, Education, and Government Leadership

    Text:
    State of the Coast
  • Destiny Quest - Resource List (Why is water important?)
    Choose Why is Water Important from the "Most Recent" Resource Lists.
  • Time for Kids - World Report - Water Troubles
  • Beach Report Card - Interactive Website
  • Annual Beach Report Card for 2009-2010
  • Discovery Education Streaming (United Streaming) Assignment - Video
    Built using lesson builder in Discovery Education Streaming. At web site put in your name and click "Go" button.

Week 3


  • Research Projects

    During this 3rd week of the project, you will begin your individual or small group research projects. These projects are based on the themes that came out of our classroom activities during Week 2. Some of these themes are:

    • access to water/availability
    • water pollution
    • water conservation
    • water rights and restrictions

You will be able to choose the format for presenting your learning. For example, you may want to create a prezi or flipchart. In addition to the resources we have used previously, please use the links below to help you with your research.

Week 4

Crafting the Message


As you begin to draft and craft your message, consider accessing the sites below.

For organizing persuasive writing:
Great Source - Persuasive Writing
ReadWriteThink - Persuasive Map
HRW - Writing Model Bank

Digital Storytelling:
DigiTales Storyboarding
Storyboard Template

Week 5

Research Projects

This week you will continue to develop your research within your chosen topic. You must choose a presentation format including, but not limited to:

Prezi
ActvInspire flipchart
Google Earth
Powerpoint presentation
Glogster
Wikispaces website
Make Beliefs Comix
Xtranormal video
OurStory interactive timeline
Go Animate video

Week 6

Student Presentations/Publishing Party

Evaluating Student Work
  1. In your groups, look at all student projects below.
  2. As a group use the rubric to evaluate one of the projects.
  3. Be prepared to discuss the following:
    • How did these students use technology to deliver their message?
    • What score did you give the project and why?

Teacher Resources